Leadership! [Caricature by DonkeyHotey from photos by Anne C. Savage for Eclectablog] In a year-end interview with MLive, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder took the bold step of letting others lead on providing basic civil rights protections for members of the LGBT community. It was a proud moment: Gay-rights advocates were quick to point out that Michigan law does not currently […]

A homophobic bigot finds another line to cross Michigan national GOP committeeman Dave Agema, a notorious anti-gay bigot, has found another line to cross in his crusade to vilify the LGBT community. It’s hard to find a line that goes further than his posting on Facebook the claims by a “doctor” who says that, among other odious things, gays are […]

The ban on same-sex marriage in Michigan can tear families apart [left to right: April, Nolan, Jacob, Jayne, and Ryanne] A few years ago, what started as a family vacation in Ohio nearly ended up in a fatal car crash for April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse. The two nurses had their three adopted children with them and the close call […]

“This is about treating all people fairly, with honor, dignity, and respect.” Today the U.S. Senate passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that would end discrimination based on sexual orientation. It seems unlikely the House Speaker John Boehner will even allow it to come to a vote in the House. Being this close to equality for all Americans in the […]

Love is love One Royal Oak, an LGBT advocacy coalition in Royal Oak, Michigan claims a huge victory tonight as voters preserved a human rights ordinance that prevents discrimination based on sexuality or gender identity. From the One Royal Oak folks: Voters in Royal Oak have passed Proposal A, upholding a Human Rights Ordinance the Royal Oak Commission passed in […]

Let’s dance [Caricature by DonkeyHotey from photos by Anne C. Savage for Eclectablog] Michigan Governor Rick Snyder is clearly practicing for his court appearance in Detroit on Monday where he’ll testify in the court hearing to determine if the city is eligible to go into bankruptcy. Yesterday, Snyder was asked about his opinion about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Michiganders […]

Meet Tom As much as things are changing for the LGBT community, the fact remains that, in Michigan, you can literally be fired for being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. This fact keeps many people in the closet, ruining lives, even forcing some people to take their lives. The Unity Michigan Coalition which includes the ACLU of Michigan, Affirmations, Equality […]

Vasectomies: Harming society since … wait. WHAT?!? I have written in the past about Jayne Rowse and April DeBoer, a Michigan couple who is suing the state to allow them, as a lesbian couple, to adopt each other’s children. When they brought their case before U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman, he encourage them to challenge Michigan’s ban on same-sex marriages […]

[Please see the update below] Last week, I questioned whether or not Michigan Senator Joe Hune is actually intelligent enough to be a senator. Today, that question is just as pertinent as we learn that Senator Hune is adamantly opposed to marriage equality in Michigan, despite the sea change happening in the opinions of Michiganders. In a recent article in […]

This is an historic day for equal rights — and a boost to everyone working toward marriage equality in Michigan. As I write this, my heart is full. Today is a day that was far too long in coming, but it’s here now and it’s cause for celebration. United States Supreme Court ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) […]

The people are leading their “leaders” This afternoon, a coalition of LGBT leaders and Michigan House Democrats announced package of legislation that will repeal the ban same-sex marriage in Michigan, a position supported by a majority of Michiganders. According to a statement by House Dems, the package of legislation involves two bills and a resolution: The first piece in the […]